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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: social difficulties

February 2019

Brain’s prefrontal cortex conducts symphony of social players

by  /  20 February 2019

A brain region that orchestrates responses to social cues and aids decision-making may be off tempo in autism.

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January 2019

Three spectrums, not one, may define autism

by  /  24 January 2019

Three distinct categories of traits best characterize autism, according to a study of more than 6,000 children.

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Gut microbes may treat social difficulties in autism mice

by  /  16 January 2019

Consuming Lactobacillus reuteri, a gut microbe found in yogurt and breast milk, may enhance social interactions in three mouse models of autism.

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December 2018
Woman looking into mirror sees words and fragmented reflection.

Why adults need an easier path to autism diagnosis

by  /  18 December 2018

Getting an autism diagnosis can be difficult for many adults, due to the dearth of reliable tests, high costs and bureaucracy.

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Child in MEG with eeg cap

Autistic children may have to mute own perspective to grasp others’

by  /  6 December 2018

To understand another person’s point of view, children with autism may need to actively suppress their own.

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November 2018
Father and son talking on the couch.

Autistic children, parents may shape each other’s language

by  /  28 November 2018

Parents may speak to their autistic children using fewer words and less complex sentences than do parents of typical children, which in turn shapes the children’s language skills.

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Schizophrenia prevalence may be threefold higher in people with autism

by  /  21 November 2018

Autism and schizophrenia co-occur significantly more often than would be expected by chance, according to an analysis of nearly 2 million people.

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Monkey looks to the left.

Monkey with mutation in top autism gene shows social problems

by  /  14 November 2018

The first monkey with a mutation in SHANK3, a top autism gene, is nearly 3; it spends its days circling its cage rather than interacting with other monkeys.

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Robot ‘rat’ meets real rat — and science happens

by  /  6 November 2018

An autonomous robotic ‘rat’ may offer novel insights into the social responses of its warm-blooded counterparts.

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An adult rhesus macaque grooms a juvenile.

Study supports use of eye tracking to study monkey behavior

by  /  3 November 2018

Rhesus macaques that are drawn to other monkeys’ faces in videos also tend to be highly social with their peers.

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